The #MeToo movement shook the internet in a way that no-one could have predicted. Thousands of women stood and said, “Yes, this has happened to me too”. But out of the horror has come a new way of thinking and dealing with harassment. It doesn’t matter if it is online or in public, woman are taking a stand.
Unsolicited pictures
Ah! What a way to start the day! You open up your social media, any social media, to discover a few unsolicited penis pictures. This can happen on any platform. I know girls that regularly get sent these pictures on Facebook. Thankfully most platforms are aware of the amount of nakedness that goes on and have the handy report button. But there has been a massive increase in the amount of women publicly shaming these fellas because we are all fed up with this.
“Give me your number, love”
Err….how about no? My husband once told me that I look like I would rip a mans arms off and beat him to death with them for looking at me funny. Thanks sweetie! Love you too! But he’s not lying. My mother often refers to my face as, “looking like a well smacked arse”. Thanks mum. But I don’t blame her, I look like my dad. Why am I trying you this? Because I get told to “smile” all the time. But if a girl is pretty, she gets the “give me your number” line. When this sort of thing happens, I tend to scream. It makes everyone really uncomfortable including the idiot who is attempting to sexually harass me in public.
Online dating
Online dating is a massive thing these days and is considered one of the easiest ways to meet a potential partner. The problem is that not everyone views it that way and people get harassed. Look guys, just because a woman is on a dating site, it does not mean that it is a free for all. She probably doesn’t want to see *that* so don’t get huffy when she ignores you or tells you to bugger off. Sex dating sites and adult dating provides a place for like-minded people to introduce themselves. There is a good chance that 9/10 times, you will get turned down. Suck it up and move on rather than being a baby. Consent is key.
Just a little feel
This one really annoys me, and I’m going to tell you why. One night, I was out for a hen party. When I was at the bar, some guy stuck his hand up my dress and felt my bum. This has been the only time in my life I didn’t turn round and smack the offender. I have been thrown out of bars for punching men (sometimes four times the size of me) after they have put their hands somewhere I didn’t want them to. Why didn’t I? Because I didn’t want to cause a scene. I’ve done some crazy crap in my time, and this is one of only two regrets. The other is not finishing the tree-tops course with my gym-buddies but that is a story for another time.
Sexual harassment is not ok. What have we learnt from the #MeToo movement? That women will not stand by and allow themselves to be tortured by unwanted sexual advances.
What do you guys think? How do you handle sexual harassment when you are out? Do you ignore it? Or do you scream bloody murder and smack the offender? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.